Checklist for Mentees

By giving careful thought and consideration to the following guidelines you should find your experience of being mentored extremely rewarding and beneficial for your future personal and professional development. In the first instance carefully identify who from the Mentor database has the knowledge skills and experience which you will find most helpful. Don't forget that your mentor is giving you their time, and experience. Ensure that you respect this by preparing thoroughly before you make contact or meet. So that you don't waste valuable time, prepare for meetings beforehand Before your first contact with your mentor, identify:
  • What you have achieved so far in your career, and life generally?
  • What you want to discuss with your mentor.
  • What are your main objective(s)?
  • Where you are, on the path to achieving your objective(s)?
  • What you need to do to reach completion?
  • What your expectations of a mentor?
  • What can your mentor do to help you?
At your first meeting with your mentor, make sure that you discuss:
  • How often and where you will meet or make contact if your mentor does not live close to you
  • How much time you mentor will have available for meetings/contact
  • Arrangements for canceling or rescheduling a meeting/contact
  • Method of communication in between meetings
Once the mentoring is under way, you will need to review your progress between meetings by asking yourself:
  • What have I done/achieved
  • Is it what I planned to achieve?
  • What have I learnt?
  • What went well?
  • What could have gone better?
Decide what you want to discuss next with your mentor. Think about what you want to get out of your next meeting - be clear about your objectives and how you would like to use the time effectively. Remember you should be doing most of the talking - at least 70% of it.
  • Maintaining a successful relationship with your mentor.
  • Always arrive or contact your mentor at the time scheduled - don't be late.
  • Use all meetings productively for your own development - don't moan, gossip or get side-tracked.
  • Be willing to learn from the guidance that your mentor will give you.
  • Be open to suggestions and try out their ideas.
  • Tell your mentor if you acted on their advice, and what the outcome was.
  • If you agree on a course of action, make sure that you follow it through-this demonstrates commitment on your part.
  • Provide feedback to your mentor. It is important for your mentor to know that you are interested making use of his/her knowledge, to develop your skills and abilities
If you experience any difficulties with your mentoring relationship then you should raise these with your mentor and identify how you would like these things to change. Your mentor will find it helpful if you are clear about your expectations and give feedback to your mentor on the process from your point of view. Don't forget that you might be able to give something back to your mentor. You might have information or contacts that could be useful to them.